“I look at fitness from a technical aspect in that you have a current health status and also you have, on the other end of the spectrum, the goal you have for your health, so I try to figure out a way to close that gap.”
Kettering University graduate Marquita Adams (’06, CE; ’14, Master’s in Engineer Management) recently received the Harry Binder Lion Award from the Crim Fitness Foundation for her dedication and efforts to help improve and inspire lives in the Genesee community.
Adams, who is also known as the Zumba Diva, is the owner and founder of Harambee Wellness in Flint and has been a site coordinator at the Freeman site of the Flint Community Training Program for years. She also organized Get Fit in Flint Fest events, which bring community leaders together to promote active and healthy lifestyles.
“I was extremely surprised and taken back for even being nominated for the award,” Adams said.
Winning the award on June 23 was unexpected, but Adams said it offered reassurance that she is making an impact.
The award, created in 2018 in honor of longtime Crim runner Harry Binder and his commitment to an active, healthy lifestyle, aims to showcase community members who inspire others in the Greater Flint community.
“Her (Marquita) life story is truly inspiring, and she uses her experience to help others,” said Joe Dimambro, Director of Races & Training at the Crim Fitness Foundation. “She cares about the community, and works tirelessly to improve the lives of those that live in it.”
Adams’ fitness journey began more than a decade ago when she decided to begin leading a healthier lifestyle. In 2011, she began to teach group fitness classes and opened Harambee Wellness six years later. Though her new career seems to be the complete opposite of her Kettering engineering background, she said she has been able to put that experience to use.
“It was a learning curve in that it required me to create a new routine, but I still leveraged my background to implement my programming and project management skills,” Adams said. “I look at fitness from a technical aspect in that you have a current health status and also you have, on the other end of the spectrum, the goal you have for your health, so I try to figure out a way to close that gap.”
As for what’s next, Adams said she plans to continue to help others reach their fitness goals and live healthier lives while she works on her next personal goal: Complete a marathon in the next two years